VIDEO: Hilarious Clip of Tortoise Chasing Dog Goes Viral

The clip shows Sheldon, the 8-year-old African spurred tortoise, moving at a remarkable speed as it chases his friend Dolly (3-year-old), an American pit bull terrier around its owner's garden.

The dog barks playfully as the tortoise follows it across the grass.

The footage was posted online in February by animal rescue and veterinary body the Humane Society of North Texas (HSNT) and was filmed in August 2014 by one of their vets, Dr Cynthia Jones, who adopted the two animals.

Dr Jones posted that Sheldon only plays chase with Dolly and not her other pet, which is a Labrador retriever.

HSNT representative Whitney Hanson said she hoped the video helps to open people's eyes to the possibility of interspecies friendships.

By Benjamin Wafula